Confirmed with Link: Matteau to MTL for Devante Smith-Pelly

[NJDevils17]

Thoughts on the pick:

1. Keeping the pick at the time made little sense. We all agree there.

2. DSP+JQ is solid. Some teams don't even get a player with two first round picks.

3. There's no guarantee that we would've taken Larkin, Fiala or a high-level guy who is transitioning nicely. We could've drafted Perlini, who's been less than great and had a terrible WJC, or Milano who's development has stagnated.

4. This is all in the past. Who the heck cares anymore? We can't go back and not have one of these guys.

5. I for one am happy to have JQ, he made team Canada, has performed well in the WHL and looks like an Adam Henrique-esque player. Getting a guy like that in the first round is solid period. Especially at 30. I'm willing to bet that JQ becomes an NHL player and half the guys from 11 down don't amount to anything.

That's all I'll say because I think talking about this is getting ridiculous.

 

[OmNomNom]

so no dsp at first practice :\ prob exhausted from the flight though. someone on a fb group somehow managed to get a picture w him at the airport (insane how the guy went there and waited around, presumably)

 

[Zippy316]

so no dsp at first practice :\ prob exhausted from the flight though. someone on a fb group somehow managed to get a picture w him at the airport (insane how the guy went there and waited around, presumably)

I'm sure it's not too hard to search up a San Jose to Newark redeye to find Smith-Pelly.

 

[OmNomNom]

I'm sure it's not too hard to search up a San Jose to Newark redeye to find Smith-Pelly.

hmm true... still, pretty crazy to go just for that sake. some fans' dedication never cease to amaze me

 

[Captain Lou]

The best part of this trade is that it closes the book on one Lou's biggest gaffes as our GM. And he had quite a few whoppers.

We can now move on.

 

[Bleedred]

There are no direct flights from San Jose to Newark.

He either took a private charter out of SJ, had to connect somewhere between Newark and SJ, or probably flew from San Francisco to Newark direct.

 

[Bleedred]

The best part of this trade is that it closes the book on one Lou's biggest gaffes as our GM. And he had quite a few whoppers.

We can now move on.

I'm still not even sure why we kept him after the Zubrus injury. Was it really necessary? We had so many cheap and scrubs and league washouts playing for us that year. Uncle Jessy, Bobby Butler, Krys Barch, D'Agowhateverhisnamewas, Matt Anderson even got a few games as a call up. We could have easily used another one of those dopes to fill the void. I know they weren't replacing Zubrus, but was an 18 year old that didn't really need to be here gonna do it? I hated that season so much. That was literally the worst season I've had of watching Devils hockey. The Jmac season had a great red hot and monster second half, the 13-14 season wasn't as brutal after the first month. The 14-15 season was bleh too. But as bad as those seasons were, the 12-13 one pisses me off the most. From Kovalchuk half assing it, to the 10 game losing streak, outshooting teams 38-16 and losing.

I don't regret that season though, I hated the lockout.

 

[Bleedred]

How could I forget the reacquisitions of Ponikarovksy and Sullivan 2.0?

And didn't Zubrus get injured like a week or two before we brought Ponikarovsky back? So not sure why Matteau even stayed at that point. I don't even remember if he was 10 games in by the time we got Ponikarovsky back. And the Mathieu Darche PTO, who left and retired upon the Ponikarovsky acquisition. So we had guys to use, despite them being trash anyway.

 

[blink]

Ok, so what. Matteau didn't get much of a chance here. Did he deserve one?

Had character issues in the Q and what did we do? Here Stef, welcome to the NHLat the age of 19. It was more of a sign of how weak our roster was at the time rather than him being an elite prospect. He has never been elite.

I would have sat his ass in Albany and properly developed him. Two seasons in the AHL showed us that he was a borderline 3rd-4th line type. i would have kept him in the AHL longer if possible. Why we gave him NHL ice at the age of 19 is mind boggling to me.

Why we even kept that pick is even more mind boggling. I don't mind this deal. Like people on here have said, Matteau didn't get much of an opportunity but I don't think he did much to deserve one either.

Welcome to NJ DSP. I'm not expecting much...this is his 3rd NHL team already and he is only 23. 4th liner who will have to show what he can do for the remainder of the season. If he doesn't impress, oh well.

We have some hungry kids who are developing well in the AHL. Zacha and JQ will be in Albany next year. Possibly Kerfoot too although I think he stays for his last year at Harvard. Coleman will be healthy again. Plus we have our first rounder in a strong crop and a **** ton of cap space. We're alright guys....

 

[devilsblood]

Smith-Pelley was a 42nd overall pick in his own right. Has had way more NHL success and is a right handed RW. He's 23.

Very solid deal by Shero.

 

[Khione]

Thanks.

 

[Comparison Ford]

I like that video from DSP. It shows me he has emotion. Emotion that I haven't seen at all from any Matteau interview at all. Everything about DSP screams upgrade on Matteau. More points, hits more, playoff experience, hell, he has more goals in the playoffs then Matteau has career points. And DSP is right handed. I think he's gonna fit right in with this team, and at the very worse, it makes Tootoo expendable.

 

[NJDevs26]

Apparently Matteau got himself suspended for two AHL games for something he did during his conditioning game

 

[njdevils1982]

Apparently Matteau got himself suspended for two AHL games for something he did during his conditioning game

illegal check to head

edit link: http://theahl.com/ahl-announces-suspension-p201547

 

[capebretoncanadien]

This trade doesn't make sense to me as a Habs fan. I think you guys got the better player for sure. He was crappy and slow last year but seemed to work on everything he needed to in the offseason. He was a much better player. He was probably most upset that he worked as hard as he did and was just shuffled away, played sporadically and shipped down the road for a worse player with a French last name.

I think he can carve out a niche with you guys for sure. Easily an excellent 4th liner. With the lack of depth you guys have up front currently he might climb the lineup. His fitness and skating USED TO be an issue but I don't see it as a weakness anymore. He was flying in preseason and the early part of this year.

Anyway all the best NJD fans I find I like your team a lot more with no Marty and hope to see DSP play well for ya.

 

[Chili]

Smith Pelly was out of shape when he got to the Habs and immediately got in the coaches doghouse and don't know if he ever really got out of it. I think he is a better player now, at least in better shape. The problem was that he seemed to disappear in games which landed him back in the bad graces and sometimes in the pressbox. In other words consistent effort has been an issue, if he is playing physically, he is more involved.

He has to realize he will run out of chances soon. He is an NHL player in my opinion the question is how bad does he want it...he does come across as a pretty good kid.

 

[glenwo2]

How is this thread 7 pages long? Lol. Matteau is horrendous, DSP is a 4th liner, let's move on.

Some of us like to debate in this thread. You can "move on" if you want.


Matteau was not horrendous mainly 'cause he wasn't on the ice enough to be considered "horrendous". The vitriol and hate that I'm seeing from some here is just astounding....

The best part of this trade is that it closes the book on one Lou's biggest gaffes as our GM. And he had quite a few whoppers.

We can now move on.

Right. Because this "gaffe" ruined this franchise utterly.

Actually, to be fair, the "gaffe" was the inexcusable burning of a year off Matteau's ELC. THAT was Lou's biggest gaffe, Period.

The decision to keep the pick was questionable, of course, but any chance of seeing where Matteau's career goes(and develops) was destroyed because of Lou. And THAT'S a fact.

Apparently Matteau got himself suspended for two AHL games for something he did during his conditioning game

Is that why he was traded, though?

I think the Decision was made long before that, imo.

I like that video from DSP. It shows me he has emotion. Emotion that I haven't seen at all from any Matteau interview at all. Everything about DSP screams upgrade on Matteau. More points, hits more, playoff experience, hell, he has more goals in the playoffs then Matteau has career points. And DSP is right handed. I think he's gonna fit right in with this team, and at the very worse, it makes Tootoo expendable.

So now we're nitpicking about players who show/don't show emotion to determine their worth? Wow. What else is going to come up? That DSP is a better dresser?

 

[NJDevs26]

Is that why he was traded, though?

I think the Decision was made long before that, imo.

Of course not, I just thought it was hilarious he got suspended after playing ONE game, but it obviously had nothing to do with trading him.

 

[MadDevil]

Sometimes it's funny the players people take a stand on around here.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Of course not, I just thought it was hilarious he got suspended after playing ONE game, but it obviously had nothing to do with trading him.

I think the decision to suspend him was actually made after the trade had happened, so a complete non-factor.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Took a hooking penalty on his first shift as a Hab. Off to a great start, kid.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Took a hooking penalty on his first shift as a Hab. Off to a great start, kid.

He had the least amount of shifts and ice time for MTL last night.

 

[Devils Trap]

Already liking DSP more then what Matteau did all year

 

[NJDevs26]

Already liking DSP more then what Matteau did all year

But Matteau never got a chance!

Seriously though DSP definitely has more talent than Matteau, it's a matter of what both of them make out of their skills.

 

[glenwo2]

He had the least amount of shifts and ice time for MTL last night.

Which is still more ice time than he ever got recently with Hynes.


Whatever, though. He's an Hab and I wish him luck.



So....DSP...who are you and what can you do for us?